Press Release – July 2020

DISCOVER POSIDONIA, the 100% biodegradable phone case that makes citizen science.

POPSICASE, the Barcelona-based startup that makes covers with fishing nets, has just launched the first 100% biodegradable and compostable cover that aims to increase public awareness of the most important and most endangered plant in the Mediterranean: Posidonia Oceánica; and we do so with the help of Observadores del Mar, an initiative of the CSIC.

Since it was born 3 years ago manufacturing mobile phone covers from fishing nets, POPSICASE has been promoting actions of circular economy and spreding messages that invite its users to lead a more sustainable life. In its constant effort to reduce its ecological footprint, it has now launched the DISCOVER collection, a new line of biodegradable covers that not only offer extraordinary results in terms of appearance, texture and protection of the mobile, but also collaborate with the CSIC to promote knowledge about key species in our environment. And the first one is Posidonia Oceánica.

The material: A compostable polymer that is extracted from plants and uses the CO2 they capture

Nature considers greenhouse gases (atmospheric carbon among others), as a raw material, that is, trees and plants capture CO2 from the air to produce organic matter, so why not use this system to produce a polymer that can also disintegrate more quickly? The material from which these Posidonia POPSICASE are made comes from plants such as corn, cassava, sugar cane or beet which capture and sequester CO2, transforming it into long chain polylactic acid (PLA) sugar molecules.

The plants undergo a grinding process from which starch (glucose) is extracted, enzymes are added to convert the glucose into dextrose by a process called hydrolysis, and the microorganisms then ferment this dextrose into lactic acid and then transform it into a long chain polylactic polymer (PPLA) that makes it a tough and flexible material.

A material that completely dessapears in 18 months

As a result, this PPLA is not only biodegradable in nature, i.e. it can be digested by microorganisms so that the carbon atoms in the polymer chains are broken down and returned to nature (petroleum-based plastics cannot), but it is compostable, i.e. it degrades within a certain amount of time under certain conditions.

In this case POPSICASE completely disappears if you plant it in a pot (next to a plant in your window, for example), and leave it outdoors, watering it from time to time. You will see that within 12 to 18 months, it will have completely disappeared as the carbon macromolecules will have been converted into smaller polymers.

How does plastic biodegrade?

The concept: Posidonia as a key species that cares for us and that needs to be known and preserved

It is not easy to find people who know that Posidonia is responsible for the transparency of the sea waters, the greatest ally against climate change, the habitat of thousands of species, or a natural barrier to preserve the sand on the beaches. Although its importance is vital, alarms have been raised for some years about its increasing disappearance. Boat anchors, trawling and the increase in water temperature due to climate change are the most common causes. How can we preserve it? The first step is to publicize its importance.

When a person buys a Posidonia POPSICASE, he or she does not only automatically receive a mini guide to learn about and help preserve the Posidonia, but is also donating 1% of the value of the purchase to Seawatchers, , a Citizen Science project promoted by the Institute of Marine Sciences, which brings together up to 30 research projects on the marine environment and invites anyone to get involved and find evidence that is beyond the reach of the scientific community.

The result: A turquoise coloured case, protective, flexible and soft to the touch

Discover POPSICASE is a case available in turquoise tones (light and dark) that protects the screen and the phone from all 4 sides. It is also resistant to any kind of shock and extremely pleasant to touch, because the final material is not completely uniform. It is on sale from today at www.popsicase.com for 25 euros.

Other features of POSICASE

• POPSICASE is the only Eco-Friendly mobile phone case with an integrated handle that makes it easy to use, and is internationally patented.
• POPSICASE works to reduce its ecological footprint by offsetting its CO2 emissions or by carrying out environmental awareness campaigns.
• POPSICASE is the only case that is totally recoverable, focusing on a real Circular Economy Process.

Contact with POPSICASE

If you wish to connect with us, learn more about any of the aspects we have presented to you, enter or simply use POPSICASE, do not hesitate to contact us:

María José Pedragosa
t. +34 629 04 91 00
mj@popsicase.com